Improvement in projectiles for breech-loading ordnance



MT1-Less e s W. W. lHUBisELL. Projectile.

",FEIERS, PHOTaLITHOGRAPnER. WASHINGTON. D, C.

2 Sheets- Sheet l Patented May 1, 1860.

UBBELL.

cti-1e.

W. W. H Prpje .Patented May 1, 1860K.

Inveuor WASHINGTON D c N. PETERS. Prim IINTTEE STATES ATENT Erice,

IMPROVEMENT IN PROJECTILES FOR EREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification brming part of Letters Patent No. Qg, dated May l, 1Sfi0.

1'0 all who/1b it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLmM WHEELER HUBBELL, of the city of Philadelphia, counsellor and scientific engineer, have'in'vented a new and useful Improvement in Proj ectiles for Breech-Loading Ried Cannon; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective side view ot' the projectile; and Fig. 2isalongitudinal sectional view of the same on the line 1 1, Fig. 1.

The nature of my invention consists in a certain combined construction, hereinafter more particularly described, by which an improved projectile is made, adapted to breech-loading ritled cannon, and capable of exploding on concussion in penetrating an enemys vessel or works. The percussion-exploder in the p rojectile is the same vcontained in my Letters Patent for improvement in projectiles for iirearms, dated January 24, 1860, with animprovement, and in this projectile it has other elements in the construction ofthe shell combined with it, so as to give the necessary initial course, accuracy, and rotation to preserve a true position of the exploder to cause it to explode the shell from arirled cannon. The body of the shell-casting a (mais elongated to about two and a half times the diameter of the bore of the gun. The front of the projectile curves gradually to a point, r, the same as ordinary projectiles for rifled guns. The rear part of the projectile is rounded, and between the rear part and front it is cylindrical, and recessed for the reception of a compound band of lead, iron wire, and canvas. Behind the recess is a small cylindrical surface, s s, and before it a similar surface of equal diameter, which are turned to iit, to be about three or four hundredths of an inch less than the diameter across the inner faces of the lands of the riiled bore, and serve as permanent guidesurfaces of the shell. In the recessed portion a6 x ofthe projectile, between the rear shoulder, o n, andthe front shoulder, w fw, is cast a lead band, b, which is cast onto and around, and so as teinclose a coil of iron wire, (shown by the dots 0,) the outer curve of which coil is within the diameter of the landsof the riiied bore, and which coil o1' wire, with its strands about half an inch apart, as shown, serves the purpose of giving strength to the lead band to prevent it from splitting and flying off of the projectile, and yet does not obstruct the indentation of the lands of the ritled bore into the lead and canvas which covers it. In the lead band. or around it is turned or cast a series of grooves, c cc, which allow thelead to adj ustitself while being compressed into the riiied bore. Around the outside ot' the lead band is sewcd a cylindrical covering of canvas, d, with a wire,'a, wrapped around its front end in a small groove, and a similarl groove andrstring is behind to secureitthere. Stringsmayalsobetiedaronnd the canvas into the groovesc. This canvas is greased outside and protects the lead band from being scored before use, and protects the rifled bore of the gun from being leaded,while it also relieves thefrictionas the projectile is being discharged in the gun. The body of the shell, both behind and before the band, is left thicker than it is under the band, and has two ribs, y and z, inside, as shown, and circularso as to enable it to resist the great strain in starting in the gun and the shock in penetrating the object struck. rlhe exploder has the cylinderj' extending to the back part of the shell, with the capping p screwed in it and forming the point ofthe projectile,with q, theinverted tube, on its inner end. The striker k has the iiat or open sides, the fulminate ain front, the magazine of powder, m, secured by the cork Z, and the striker secured by the lead screws o o; In the rea-r part of the cylinder are the iiring-ventsj j, covered with paper.

y is the seat of wood with its magazine h and its lead seat t', all as described in my said patent of January 24, 1860, and now combined with the compound band to co operate with it for riiied cannon.

The improvement in the exploder consists in making the vents jj through the cylinder in front of the striker, they being also covered withpaper, and in such position that when the striker explodes they are behind it, so that the air, iire, and powder may commingle more freely when the cylinder is so very long, as in this projectile,to facilitate the explosion. e is the filling-screw.

The compound band when finished, as described, projects beyond the diameter of the body at s s and tt about fifteen-hundredths of an inch, so as to be relieved into a chamber in the breech of the gun, and it is beveled in front so as to be easily started and compressed into the ritled bore of the gun by the explosive power of the cartridge.

The grooves and lands of the gln should be about an eighth of an inch deep, and from a half to three-fourths of an inch Wide, and the number and size should increase with the increase of the size of the gun. The smallest size mentioned will suit forasiX-pounderbore. This compound band will compress into the rifled bore, keep tight, not lead the gun, cause but little friction, and give the projectile the rifled motion which keeps it accurate and in position, causing the point to remain foremost and take a great range in the flight, and the exploder to operate so as to explode the shell when it penetrates a vessel or military Work. It is well adapted to the breech-loading riiled cannon of my invention, for which I have applied for a patent.

lVhat I claim isl. The combination, of the recess x, shoulders o and w, with the band I) and the Wire coil 0 secured in the band, as described.

2. The beveled cylindrical lead band b, in combination with the iiutes c c c, and the Wire coil o in the recess so as to easily enter, compensate, and indent the band into the riied bore and give it great comparativestrength to retain its proper form and position under this action, and with certainty rotate the shell or shot in the breech-loading riiied gun.

3. The beveled cylindrical canvas covering extending around and in front of thelead band, and secured by the groove and Wire a to the body ofthe projectile, in combination with the flutes c c o and the Wire coil o, so that its bevA eled front may easily enter and indent in the ried bore Without stripping, and theflutes allow the lead to compensate under it to thelands and grooves, and the Wire strengthen and hold the lead firm that the canvas may be enabled to assume a form and rmness of bearing to 4(3o-operate with the lead band in rotating the .projectile in the breeeh-loading riiied cannon.

4. The ring-holes j jin front ofthe striker, in combination with the striker and the 1nagazine m, to facilitate the explosion in shells adapted to longfranged rifled cannon.

5. The circular ribs y andzinside of and uniform around the axis ofthe shell, in combination with and at each end oft-he circular recess x and band b, so as to strengthen and support both the front and rear ends of the projectile, and the base of the circular recess resist the shock of discharge, the compression into the grooves, andthe shock of penetration by restoring the strength lost in the application of the lead band.

XVM. V. HUBBELL.

Vitn esses:

GHARLns D. FREEMAN, PENRosE FELL. 

